Bob Eisenberg is
interested in studying ion channels as physical objects, trying
to use the tools of physics, chemistry, engineering, and applied
mathematics to understand how they work. Ion channels are proteins with
a hole down their middle that are the gatekeepers for cells. Ion
channels control an enormous range of biological function in health and
disease. But ion channels have simple enough structure that they can be
analyzed with the usual tools of physical science. With that analysis
in hand, Bob and John Tang, with gifted collaborators, are trying to
design practical machines that use ion channels.